Search

EP-4740920-A1 - RE-USABLE CHASSIS WITH REMOVAL TONGUE FOR USE WITH DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT PAD

EP4740920A1EP 4740920 A1EP4740920 A1EP 4740920A1EP-4740920-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reusable hygiene article chassis comprising a pocket for receiving a replaceable absorbent pad. The chassis comprises a liquid intake zone which is particularly adapted to receive bodily exudates and further transfer these to the replaceable absorbent pad. The chassis further comprises a removal tongue, adapted to allow easy removal after use.

Inventors

  • RÖTTGER, Henning
  • WALLERT, Matthias

Assignees

  • W. Pelz GmbH & Co. KG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241112

Claims (15)

  1. A re-usable article chassis (1000) for being worn on the lower torso of a wearer exhibiting a user-oriented inside surface (1100) and an opposite outer surface (1900), said article chassis (1000) comprising - at least one liquid intake zone (1200) adapted to cover a region of the exudate releasing body openings, - a main chassis region (1300) preferably fully circumscribing said at least one liquid intake zone; said article chassis (1000) further comprising at least one pad pocket (3200) covering at least a portion of said at least one intake zone (1200) and comprising a pad pocket opening (3210), adapted for receiving and positioning an absorbent pad (2000) in liquid contact with said liquid intake zone (1200), wherein / characterized in that said chassis (1000) further comprises a removal tongue (5000) connected, optionally releasably connected, with a fixed end (5002) to a front or rear portion (1002, 1008) of said chassis (1000) whilst said opposite end (5008) is essentially freely movable, wherein said removal tongue (5000) is adapted to receive an absorbent pad (2000) upon donning and to allow pulling of said absorbent pad (2000) upon its removal.
  2. A re-usable article chassis (1000) according to claim 1, wherein said removal tongue (5000) comprises a material exhibiting at least one the elements selected from the group consisting of a) - exhibiting a1) a liquid permeability; a2) a liquid absorbency of less than about 50 ml/g, preferably less than about 5 ,l/g more preferably less than about 1 ml/g; a3) hydrophobicity, b) - exhibiting a coefficient of static friction bi) of its surface oriented towards said pocket of less than 0.8 towards the chassis material; bii) of its surface opposite the one oriented towards said pocket of more than 0.2 towards the inserted absorbent pad.
  3. A re-usable article chassis (1000) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein Said tongue comprises at least one material which is selected from the group consisting of 3a) a nonwoven material; 3b) an apertured film; 3c) a net; 3d) a textile fabric, preferably a woven or knitted fabric.
  4. A re-usable article chassis (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said chassis (1000) comprising said tongue (5000) is washable at at least 40°C, preferably at at least 60°C, more preferably at at least 90°C for at least 30 times, preferably at least 60 times.
  5. A re-usable article chassis (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said pad pocket (3200) of said chassis (1000) comprises an opening (3210), which is open towards the inside (1100) of the chassis (1000) and wherein said removal tongue (5000) comprises a removal pocket (5015) at its opposite end (5008)
  6. A re-usable article chassis (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said pad pocket (3200) of said chassis (1000) is positioned on said opposite surface (1900) of said chassis, and said tongue (5000) is adapted to be positioned into said pad pocket (3200) of said article together with an absorbent pad (2000).
  7. A system (100) for receiving bodily exudates, said system (100) comprising - a chassis (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, - and an absorbent pad (2000) adapted to be inserted into said pad pocket (3200) of said chassis (1000).
  8. A system (100) according to claim 7, wherein said absorbent pad is flushable according to EDANA GD4
  9. A system (100) according to claim 7, wherein said absorbent pad is flushable according to IWSFG standard.
  10. A system (100) according to any of claims 7 to 9, further comprising an insertion aid (3500), optionally being flushable according to EDANA GD4 or IWSFG flushability standard, adapted to ease insertion of said absorbent pad (2000) and said tongue (5000) into said pad pocket (3200).
  11. A system (100) according to claim 10, wherein said stiffening aid is separate from said chassis and said absorbent pad, and adapted to be removed after insertion.
  12. A system (100) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said stiffening aid is flushable according to EDANA GD4 or IWSFG and separate from said chassis and said absorbent pad, and adapted to be removed after insertion.
  13. A method for using a system (100) according to claim 7, said method comprising the steps of a) - providing a chassis (1000) according to any of claims 1 to 6; b) - providing an absorbent pad (2000), adapted to fit into said pad pocket (3200) of said chassis (1000); c) - positioning the loose end (5008) of said tongue (5000) outside of said chassis (1000); d) - positioning said absorbent pad (2000) into a cross-directional fold (5010) of said tongue (5000), optionally a preformed fold, and inserting said absorbent pad (2000) together with said tongue (5000) into said pad pocket (3200); e) - removing said absorbent pad (2000) from said pad pocket (3200) of said chassis (1000) by pulling said tongue (5000) with said absorbent pad (2000) positioned in a fold (5010) of said tongue (5000), out of said pad pocket (3200); f) - discarding said absorbent pad (2000); whereby said steps b) to f) are executed in the given order, and optionally repeatedly.
  14. A method for using a system (100) according to claim 13, wherein step e) is executed by pulling said loose end (5008) of said tongue (5000) to the outside of said chassis (1000).
  15. A method for using a system (100) according to claim 13, wherein step e) is executed by - positioning a finger between said chassis (1000) and said tongue (5000); - pulling said loose end (5008) of said longue (5000) from the proximity of the attached end by moving said finger from said chassis (1000).

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reusable hygiene article chassis comprising a pocket for receiving a replaceable absorbent pad. The chassis comprises a liquid intake zone which is particularly adapted to receive bodily exudates and further transfer these to the absorbent pad. The chassis further comprises a removal tongue, adapted to allow easy easier insertion and removal after use. Background Apart from washable cloth diapers, two-piece diaper systems comprising a reusable and washable outer layer and a disposable insert have long been used. Over the last decades, disposable diapers have significantly improved both ease of application and liquid handling performance, which further led to healthier skin of a wearer even at extended wear times, not only for babies but also for incontinent adults as well as for menstruating women. Especially for the latter two categories, absorbent pads are broadly used for lower liquid handling requirements, such as light to medium incontinence or lower menstrual flow conditions, whereby such pads are typically inserted into regular underwear, optionally attached thereto by releasable adhesive, or - mostly in hospitals or care facilities - elasticated pants. In particular for mobile people, discreetness during wear times and ease of replacement become highly relevant. However, with an increased environmental awareness, disposable products have come under scrutiny for using non-renewable resources and/or for an increase carbon footprint in the overall lifecycle, including treatment of the used products. It is also known to design products in particular for menstrual products or very light incontinence products, being washable with a slightly increased absorbent capacity in the crotch region so as to accommodate small amounts of exudates. Such products may comprise a hydrophilic wad of fibers in the crotch region, optionally in combination with a thin protective coating or film to reduce the risk of soiling of the clothing. Such products may be laundered and reused many times, and as such also allow the use of more expensive materials, such as textile extensible materials, such as knitted cotton, as well known from conventional underwear, or elastic materials, such as rubber, preferably synthetic rubber, or synthetic elastic materials, known as LYCRA ™ and the like. US6142983 discloses a disposable absorbent article with an outer cover, an absorbent chassis and an absorbent support member which is configured to maintain the absorbent chassis in close contact with the wearer's body in use. US20060247599 refers to an absorbent garment having a garment-like outer shell and an absorbent assembly positioned therein. WO1995010992A1 discloses a diaper assembly including a washable over-garment and a reusable moisture proof sheet positioned on the inner surface side of the garment. US3489149 (Larson) describes a re-usable and washable panty for menstrual wear having in the crotch portion a pocket for an optional absorbent insert or pad, wherein the user-oriented portion of the pocket is formed from a first hydrophobic, yet moisture-passing layer for improved skin dryness oriented towards the wearer and a hydrophilic layer oriented towards the insert, if present, or the panty material, which has some tendency to retain moisture for the case when not used in combination with an insert pad.. The insert may be disposable. US2021/0100698 (P&G, Langdon) describes a unitary or two-piece article, wherein the chassis portions exhibit particular stretch properties so as to allow good adaptation to body contours, especially in the crotch region. In EP2376046, a wearable absorbent article to be worn by a wearer about the lower torso is described, comprising a re-useable chassis adapted to receive an absorbent insert therein. The chassis comprises insert fastener components and the absorbent insert comprises a pair of elasticized standing cuffs. Along these developments, the commercially available PAMPERS ™ Hybrid design provides baby diapers with a reusable chassis and a disposable absorbent core - just as at the beginning of diapering, but with more modern materials, especially superabsorbent materials. WO2023/180584 Al (Pelz), hereinafter referred to as WO'584, describes a system with an article chassis that is adapted to receive an absorbent pad, so as to ease replacing of the pad upon loading, addressing improved positioning but also exchange of a loaded absorbent core In WO2024/213393A1 (Pelz) an absorbent pad is described, that is suitable to be flushed, such as in a toilet and especially adapted to be fitted into a chassis, such that a hygiene article system is formed. In aiming at good disintegration after use, particular executions exhibit a low wet strength, e.g., in a preferred execution, the pad is essentially free of any adhesive or glue. However, lower wet strength may lead to more difficult removal of the pad after use. Whilst such a system addressed the